Commentary: Yankees send mixed signals on payroll

12:10 AM,
Nov. 14, 2013

Written by

Bob Nightengale
USA Today

The New York Yankees are telling the free world they have their checkbook stashed away in their safe deposit box in Manhattan and, no matter how tempting, they don't plan to dial the combination and embark on a spending binge.

They are determined to slash about $50 million from their $236 million payroll at the end of this season to get below the $189 million luxury-tax figure in 2014.

"That's the goal," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told USA TODAY Sports. "Instead of giving all of the money to the 29 other owners that are receiving that benefit, we would rather have our fan base receive it ...